Oakland Athletics’ Coco Crisp (L) scores the tying run on a sacrifice fly hit by Collin Cowgill as Colorado Rockies catcher Wilin Rosario attempts to make the tag during their interleague baseball game in Denver Wednesday. — APSAN FRANCISCO – San Francisco’s Matt Cain pitched the 22nd perfect game in major league history and first for the Giants, striking out a career-high 14 batters and getting help from two running catches to beat the Houston Astros 10-0 Wednesday.

Cain’s 125-pitch masterpiece featured a pair of late great plays by corner outfielders Melky Cabrera and Gregor Blanco, and he got pinch-hitter Jason Castro on a grounder to third for the 27th and final out.

Cain (8-2) threw 86 of his pitches for strikes and faced four 3-2 counts. He threw the most pitches in any perfect game.
It was the second perfect game of the season and the fifth no-hitter – including three in June.

The Astros were no-hit for the fifth time and first since Carlos Zambrano did so for the Cubs on Sept. 14, 2008.

Cabrera, Brandon Belt and Blanco all hit two-run homers for the Giants.
Houston starter J.A. Happ (4-7) allowed eight runs and 11 hits in 3 1-3 innings.

Nationals 6, Blue Jays 2: Stephen Strasburg won his fifth straight start, Tyler Moore hit the first two home runs of his career and Washington finished a three-game sweep of Toronto.

Reds 5, Indians 3: Brandon Phillips had another strong game against his former team, hitting a two-run homer and driving in three runs as Cincinnati topped Cleveland.

Mets 9, Rays 1: R.A. Dickey allowed only an infield single during his second career one-hitter and broke the New York Mets’ record for consecutive scoreless innings in a victory over Tampa Bay.

Yankees 3, Braves 2: Curtis Granderson hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the sixth inning, and the streaking New York Yankees completed their second straight three-game sweep with a win over Atlanta.

Red Sox 10, Marlins 2: Felix Doubront allowed three hits while pitching a career-high seven innings, and Boston beat reeling Miami.

Rangers 1, Diamondbacks 0: Craig Gentry hit a two-out RBI single in the eighth inning, and Matt Harrison combined with two relievers on a six-hitter as Texas beat Arizona.

Cardinals 1, White Sox 0: Lance Lynn struck out a career-high 12 to stay tied for the major league lead in wins and Carlos Beltran hit his NL-best 19th home run Wednesday night, sending the St. Louis Cardinals to a 1-0 victory over the White Sox that ended Chicago’s eight-game road winning streak.

Phillies 9, Twins 8: Jim Thome drove in four runs against his former team, including a long homer, and Philadelphia hung on for a win over Minnesota.
Tigers 8, Cubs 4: Jhonny Peralta had three hits and two RBIs one night after he made two costly throwing errors, and Detroit rallied to beat the Chicago Cubs.

Royals 4, Brewers 3, 11 innings: Mike Moustakas walked with the bases loaded in the 11th inning, giving Kansas City a come-from-behind victory over Milwaukee.

Athletics 10, Rockies 8: Brandon Inge hit a go-ahead, two-run double during a three-run ninth inning, and Oakland overcame a grand slam by Todd Helton and two homers by Michael Cuddyer to top Colorado.

Padres 1, Mariners 0: Yonder Alonso homered in the seventh inning and Jason Marquis and three relievers combined on an eight-hitter as San Diego beat Seattle.

Angeles 2, Dodgers 1: Erick Aybar led off the ninth inning with his first home run of the season, Alberto Callaspo also went deep and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Dodgers in the rubber game of the season’s first Freeway Series. — Agencies